Egg And Spoon by Gregory Maguire || And toast?

Part of me wanted it to be over already (because it dragged on and on). And part of me was absolutely in love with the magical uniqueness and the fabulous humour. I AM TORN.

I haven’t laughed like this in a long time.

It was glorious. Witty banter? Bring – it – on. It was all Baba Yaga. She was downright snippy and sarcastic. Of course, along with the cat, Mewster. Their back-and-forth was some of the best wit I’ve read in a long time. Unfortunately, Baba Yaga didn’t come in until a few 100 pages into the book.

I have to admit…I was bored at times.

I appreciated the story! The setting! The gloriousness of Russian folklore and magic. But the writing felt really thick. It waffled off on tangents I didn’t care about. And it took a long time in setting up the story, which, actually wasn’t really unique. It had a Prince-And-the-Pauper vibe. Rich girl and peasant accidentally swap places? I have totally read this a million times. That kind of disappoints me. From such a famous author as Gregory Maguire, I expected a LOT of greatness. I got a rather tired and very used story.

Yes, so maybe the story was over-told, but this version was still brilliant.

I laughed, I snickered, I rooted from the poor and the rich alternately. The secondary characters were fantastic. And did I mention magic?

I LOVE MAGIC.

This was a totally uniquely magical story. From Baba Yaga’s moving house and talking cat, to the Firebird (kind of like a Phoenix I assume), it was rich with Russian lore. I loved stepping into Russia too, with the Czars and rich parties and balls and starving peasants (though that part totally made me hungry and sad).
We have two main characters: Elena (peasant) and Cat (rich girl, short for Ekaterina).

I liked them both.

Elena was timid but then spunky as she embarked on an impossible (but accidental) journey of deception to see the Czar and ask for her brother back.

Cat was a snobby brat. But they’re always quite fun to read. My only problem was that when Cat met Baba Yaga, she also met Mewster, who is, in fact, a talking cat. Since the actual-cat is sometimes referred to as a cat, it got confusing with Cat’s name being, well, Cat (confused yet?). I loved this story about two interesting and intelligent girls. (They were 13.) I loved Cat and Baba Yaga’s snarky banter and I loved Elena’s cunning even though she had no education.

I’m so glad I read this amazing book, but at the same time I’m glad it’s finished.

A book usually takes me 24 hours to consume. I was reading this one for 4 days before I reached the end. That definitely says something. STILL. I would recommend it in a heartbeat. Original. Fabulous. And hilarious. Seriously, in the light of humour that makes you snort, all sins can be forgiven, right?!

Thank you to Walker Books for the review-copy!Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire came out in September, 2014.

A fantasy set in Tsarist Russia.
Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years. One of her brothers has been conscripted into the Tsar’s army, the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. Her mother is dying, slowly, in their tiny cabin. And there is no food. But then a train arrives in the village, a train carrying untold wealth, a cornucopia of food, and a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg — a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. When the two girls’ lives collide, an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and — in a starring role only Gregory Maguire could have conjured — Baba Yaga, witch of Russian folklore, in her ambulatory house perched on chicken legs.

Cait has been drowning in tinsel. Figurative tinsel. Why is Christmas so insane?? She has prepared 3% of her presents for humans and has lost her room under a mountain of paper creations and good intentions. Help. Currently she’s still reading WICKED (also by Gregory Maguire!).

Comments

Ha ha ha! This sounds funny! I read this review with my brother and we both giggled a bit at the quotes. 😀

I’ll have to have a look because I must say, I am quite interested in looking into Russian folklore and culture, it’s almost like a mix of Norse, Persian and Asian. 😀 I suppose those countries do border it, but Russia is HUGE!

THE QUOTES ARE GOLDEN. Seriously, I just was taking note of quote after quote because I wanted to save them all. XDI liked the Russian-ness because it was different! I hardly ever see that in books and there should be more of it. *nods emphatically*

Right, I absolutely hated Wicked more than most books but I really like the sound of the story and all the folklore and stuff in this. Damn you for making me interested in a book by an author on my never again list!

I'm trying to read Wicked right now…I have been reading it for about 10 days. >.> *glares awkwardly at said book* But in I suppose the phrase “reading” shouldn't be used when I haven't TOUCHED it in 10 days. I don't hate it, it's just super slow.

I WANT BANTER, but on the other hand, I’m not mentally prepared for a book that will drag. Which sucks. Because I live for sarcasm. AND I do love a bit of Russian folklore in particular as well. Hmmmm….Which one will outweigh the other…

I think Gregory Maguire must feel pressured to be original at times, since he’s basically earned the crown for it! I’ve been meaning to pick up Wicked since forever, but just haven’t done so. Decided to not request this book because of that. I love retellings and it sounds like this is beautifully written, shame about it being boring at the same time though.

I KNOW, RIGHT?! I NEED TOAST WITH MY EGG AND SPOON. I do love the title. It\’s like the prelude to a delicious breakfast. (And it totally makes sense once you start the book.) Oh gosh, yes, Gregory Maguire must have serious pressure!

This seems like a pretty good book even though it is a little bit slow some times. It kind of sounds a little bit like historical fiction taking place in Russia, yet it’s not exactly historical fiction. Good thing I love historical fiction, and I also love books that make me laugh out loud.

I have been looking for more Slavic fantasy since the Grisha books and this seems like the perfect thing! I generally don’t mind slow paced books, and the writing just sounds fabulous and funny. It has earned it’s place on my Winter TBR!

Pffft, it sounds like Wicked – the very small bit of Wicked that I read before getting bored! I mean, it sounds like an interesting story concept, but his writing is SO. DENSE. He needs a better editor!

I personally totally prefer a lighter faster style, but I get that this is HIS style. It\’s very similar to Wicked. 0.0 *whispers* I\’m still plodding through Wicked. I\’ve been reading for like 10+ days and I\’m only halfway thorugh. >.>

I didn’t know Wicked and Egg and Spoon were written by the same person! How awesome is that? (I’m all up for witty banter – especially since it’s with Baba Yaga who is widely accepted as the Don). And isn’t Mewster such a fitting name for the cat? Plus the cover looks really cool. If I had that in my room, I’d just frame the cover – it reminds me of the old days when we’d have lots of egg-shaped paintings and drawings all framed up on the walls. 🙂

Baba Yaga is downright freakishly hilarious. I am so impressed. Mewster is a GREAT name for a cat! I just wish he\’d always been referred to as Mewster so there wasn\’t any confusion with him and the GIRL named Cat. -_-

It’s official… If I ever get another cat I will call it Mewster! Books that I like, but take me a while to read frustrate me while I’m reading them, but then I always look back on them with fondness when I’m done. I have never read anything by Gregory Maguire, but now I reaaallllyyy want to so I’m off to add some of his books to my TBR (probably all of them). Great review!!

WAIT…THIS IS BY THE AUTHOR OF WICKED?!?! I’m definitely intrigued! The writing sounds absolutely fantastic, and I love how it’s a retelling of Baba Yaga; I don’t think I’ve seen that done before in YA. It’s a shame the pacing is a bit slow at points, but otherwise it sounds absolutely fantastic. Definitely going to put this on my TBR! Thanks for sharing Cait, and fabulous review! ♥

YES IT IS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. I am apparently on a Gregory Maguire crusade atm, with two-books at once. hehe. I\’m struggling a bit with Wicked though. 🙁 Baba Yaga\’s name reminded me of the witches out of Throne of Glass. Weren\’t they Baba Yellowlegs or something??

Of course, the banter and Russian stuff sound like complete wins. I love Russian stuff, and who doesn’t love witty banter? But I think I could live without the boring. I get irrationally mad at books that take too long. But if I am in the right kind of mood, I could see myself reading this, even if it was just a few chapters a day or something.

Also your 3% of finished gifts is basically right where I am. I’m hopelessly behind, and my room looks like Santa is using it for extra storage. BUT, as long as we can still locate all the books, we’re good, right?

I LOVE RUSSIAN STUFF TOO. I like Russian food although, well, starving peasants and all made this not have so much Russian food. I might cry.

Oh we must ALWAYS be able to locate the books. I think I quit on Christmas. I think I\’ll just write my name on the \”from\” stickers on packages under the Christmas tree and therefore LOOK like a good-present-giver even though I\’m not. It\’s like the ultimate stealing-but-giving.

Some books are meant to be read once. The fact that you still managed to get through it and gave it a four is saying something 😉 I have books that I loved but wouldn’t read again. Like, it’s done, it’s finished. Move on. I think I will pick this up sometime and experience the laughs you had 😉

I love funny books and I’ve heard mostly good things about this one. That’s a shame that it started slow and had too much extra stuff in it. I don’t know much about Russian mythology, so that aspect intrigues me.

Good luck with your Christmas presents! It must be hard with such a large family.

Ahh.. this sounds like a story that is way too descriptive but at the same time, I feel like I would like it! I can already see myself having the same problems but I do love me some witty banter and a little uniqueness 😀

I’ve read many books I’ve felt similarly about and while I always feel relieved when they are over, I also love them because of the awesomeness they are filled with.

I am definitely adding this to my TBR.

BRING IT ON.

Also.. that title. I MEAN COMMON. Doesn’t it just call out to you?? :’)

I mean the cover looks GORGEOUS. And I guess this is one of those books that need time to be *cough* consumed? haha. I’M STILL GLAD YOU LIKED IT EVEN THOUGH IT DRAGGED ON. Also I like your quotes and new graphics! 😀 😀

When I saw this post, I was originally going to comment on how awesome the plot looks (Russian mythology FTW), and how I love books that are descriptive and go on random tangents. But then.

But then I saw THAT PICTURE. (The second one; the one after the cover image.)

Oh, Cait, those pages! How could you do such a horrid thing to such a beautiful book!? I should point out that I’m one of those freaks who flinches at the sight of creased spines–or even worse, when people make mini Christmas trees out of book pages. *weeps dramatically* (Even though your photography IS gorgeous.)

Back to the novel, though–man, it’s making me hungry. I’m writing this comment at a quarter to one in the morning, and my stomach is growling. I would kill for some eggs (and toast) at the moment… This books sounds like something I’d like, though, so I’m quite looking forward to it. 😀

Aside from the storyline which does sound a bit like one we’ve read before, I’m still definitely eager to check out this book! I love the sound of the entertaining banter and Russian setting, which is one which doesn’t usually get picked up on in novels around at the moment. Thanks for sharing this brilliant review Cait 🙂

Gregory Maguire’s books are NOT easy reads. They are dense, winding labyrinths. After getting through Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, I decided not to ever tackle one of his books again. It’s just too much stuff to try and digest.

IT IS SO HARD. *gulps* I really have no motivation to finish Wicked except that I WANT to say I finished it. And then I don't know how to rate his books, because I feel so pleased for finishing them…but the journey was so hard. >-<

Oh my goodness this is by the person who wrote Wicked! I don’t even know why that makes me so excited, because I haven’t read that book either, but that musical was something amazing. You should definitely go see it if you have the kind of theatre life anywhere near you. Ooh, and I like the idea of a humorous books. I love ones that leave me laughing out loud. But at the same time this doesn’t quite sound like it is for me. I think I will have to pass it up.

Ooh, I LOVED Egg and Spoon! Like you, it took me a some time to get into it, but for me it felt like one of those slow-burn books that you kind of ease into, and by the end you’ve become completely absorbed into the world and enraptured by the characters. Especially Baba Yaga. I LOVED BABA YAGA AND MEWSTER! I also love folklore, and the Russian lore in this book was incredible. So beautiful! The book definitely had a Prince-and-the-Pauper vibe, but it worked for me, and by the end I was happy to give it a five-star rating. So glad you liked it, too!

This one does sound good and I do love me some Gregory Maguire. I really enjoyed Wicked and Son of a Witch because of how unique they were, even though they had the tendency to drag at times to. I like that this is keeping all his humour that I came to love. Would definitely read this one, if and when I can find a copy!

Hmm… so I don’t think I’ll be adding this to my tbr. I didn’t really feel taken by the synopsis, when I read it last year, and your review, though pinpointing many good qualities (I like books that make me laugh, so long as I am in solitude when the laughing takes place- to explain and make a shambles of the explanation are things I dread) doesn’t make me think it would be enough of a fantastic read for me. Though I do like that cover. Nice, nice cover.